Your Daily Sun & Moon Data for Wednesday, August 20th

The Sun
Sun Direction: ↑ 117.46° ESE
Sun Altitude: 53.33°
Sun Distance: 94.215 million mi
Next Equinox: Sep 22, 2016 9:21 AM (Autumnal)
Sunrise Today: 6:07 AM↑ 70° East
Sunset Today: 7:51 PM↑ 290° West
Length of Daylight: 13 hours, 44 minutes

 

The Moon
Moon Direction: ↑ 82.86° E
Moon Altitude: -30.76°
Moon Distance: 251025 mi
Next Full Moon: Aug 18, 20164:26 AM
Next New Moon: Sep 1, 20164:03 AM
Next Moonrise: Today1:25 PM
Current Moon Phase: Waxing Crescent
Illumination: 49.1%

Source

timeanddate.com

(You might notice I occasionally reuse a poem over and over. This one in particular is one of my favorites. I hope you come to think of it the same way).

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace, how sweet the Earth
that bore a witch like me!
I once was burned, now I survive,
was hung and now I sing.

T’was grace that drew down the moon
and grace that raised the seas.
The magic in the people’s will
will set our Mother free.

We face the East and breathe the winds
that move across this earth.
From gentle breeze to hurricane
our breath will bring forth the change.

Turn towards the South and feel the fire
that burns in you and me.
The spirit’s flame will rise again
and burn eternally.

We greet the West, our souls awash
in tides of primal birth.
Our tears and blood, our pain and love
will cleanse and heal the earth.

Reach into the North and know your roots
down deep ancestral caves.
We find the wisdom of the Crone,
Of circles we are made.

Amazing earth, enduring life,
from death into rebirth.
T’is earth I am and earth I love
and earth I’ll always be.

Amazing grace, how sweet the Earth
that bore witches like we.
We once were burned, now we survive,
were hung and now we sing.

Goddess bless, so mote it be,
Our magic spirals on.
Merry meet and merry part
and merry meet again.

—-Verna Knapp, Author
Originally published on Pagan Library

 

Oreo™ Cookie Divination

 

Casting

You will need a package of Oreo Cookies … the cheap imitation sandwich cookies are an insult to the Goddess! … enough for everyone to have at least three. Milk is good, but optional.

• Take a cookie in your hand.
• Ask the cookie a question. A “yes or no” question is best.
• Put your intent on the cookie, e.g. hold the cookie in your left hand, cover it with your right, and hold it for 13 seconds.
• Using both hands, take the cookie apart (straight pull or twisting deosil), with one side in the left hand and one side in the right.

Reading the “creme filling”

• If the creme filling is full on the right side cookie, the answer is “yes”, or a positive outcome, or wish will come true.
• If the creme filling is full on the left side cookie, the answer is “no”, or negative outcome, or wish won’t come true.
• If the creme is mostly on the right, the answer would be mainly positive.
• Vise versa on the left cookie.
• If the creme is on both cookies in a pattern, shape, split, chunks falling off, etc, you may interpret the creme filling in however manner you feel comfortable with.

You can also interpret the creme as moon phases: The full creme on right side is full moon, left side new moon….different phases can be interpreted by different splits in the creme. There are many other possible ways to interpret these cookies. Go with what feels right for you.

Grounding

Of course, you must eat the cookie afterward to honor the Goddess. If you want to dunk your cookie, do so after the divination. Mushy cookies don’t separate well.

 

For more great Pagan Humor, visit Turok’s Cabana

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2016 August 9

Mars at Closest Approach 2016
Video Credit & Copyright: Jesús Santos Garzás

 

Explanation: When does Mars appear the largest? This occurs when Earth sweeps past Mars in their respective orbits around the Sun, creating a momentary Sun-Earth-Mars alignment called opposition. The featured video shows the Mars opposition that occurred earlier this year. All of the images were taken from Earth with a small telescope. Mars actually changes its size continuously — the monthly jumps in size are an editing effect. During the first month in video, March, Earth’s view toward Mars is from relatively far away and from a relatively sideways angle — making Mars appear small and at less than full phase (gibbous). As months progress, Mars appears increasingly larger and fuller. The day Earth andMars were closest together — opposition — was on May 22. By June, Earth had passed Mars, and part of the other side of Mars appeared shadowed. Mars will now appear increasingly smaller during 2016. Even if you watch Mars from Earth all along its orbit, though, Mars will never show a crescent phase.

Closest far-moon of 2016 on August 10

 

The Wisdom of Buddha

Virtue is persecuted more by the wicked than it is loved by the good.

Your Charm for Today

Today’s Meaning:
What you need in this aspect is a bit of understanding. You can find happiness in abundance if you understand and accept the differences of those with whom you share your life within this aspect.

General Description:
This is an Egyptian group of amulets. The center ornament is the Lotus, from which hangs the emblem of Millions of years — Thou shalt never perish, never, never come to an end. The Lotus bestowed upon the wearer Light and Understanding, the gifts of the god Ra, their sun god, king of gods and of men. The Fish, the symbol of the Egyptian goddess who controlled the rising of the Nile brought Abundance and Riches. The other pendant is in the form of a lock of hair, the meaning of which is obscure.

Your Three Dragon Reading for Today

 

The Red Dragon represents success, achievement and fulfillment. The three tiles under the Red Dragon tile will influence the power your Red Dragon currently has in your life.

 

 

 

 

Wan 7
Symbol: Seven Stars
The Seven Stars tile signifies creative growth and power. Creativity should be applied to the area this tile appears. This is a place to let your imagination run free. The Seven Stars tile also indicates hope for the future.

 

 

Chrysanthemum
Symbol: Pleasure
The Chrysanthemum tile indicates you will enjoy a happy time filled with social activities and leisurely moments untainted by the demands of everyday life.

 

 

 

Bamboo 5
Symbol: Lotus Flower
The Lotus Flower tile represents birth or rebirth. On a spiritual level it may indicate you are about to reach new heights in your understanding of your place in the cosmos. Physically it may suggest a child is coming, or a new project is about to emerge. The Lotus Flower tile also speaks of regeneration, and may indicate a time of recovery from hardship—a new beginning.

Your Ancient Symbol Card for Today

The Sword

The Sword is a a call to action. It indicates challenges are before you and to attain your goals you will have to address them. The Sword does not suggest rash or underhanded behavior on your part. Indeed, while actions indicated by The Sword are decisive, they are based on the power of your wisdom and ethics. The strength of The Sword lies in the moral purity of your actions.

Your Crowley Thoth Tarot Card for Today

The Chariot

The Chariot is the representation of Victory and the personality traits required to attain victory. The Chariot indicates self-awareness and control. Courage—the ability to overcome fear and confront the unknown head on–is a primary ingredient of any victorious campaign and is denoted by the Chariot. So too is force of will. Often success is as much the product of will power and a refusal to surrender as it is anything else. The Chariot also represents the healthy personality of someone who believes in themselves; someone who can take control of the situation and bring events to a positive end. His successes come in competition with others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cat Astrology: Traits by Zodiac Sign

Find your cat’s sign and learn more about their personality…